Many people use the terms graveyard and cemetery interchangeably, but for linguistic accuracy, it is better to say graveyard when talking about a resting place on church grounds, and cemetery when referring to a burial ground that is not associated with a particular religious faith.
A graveyard contains burial grounds, typically organized by family plots. Many families hire stonemasons to sculpt beautiful and eloquent headstones for their loved ones in the graveyard.
Definition
While the terms graveyard and cemetery are often used interchangeably these days, they aren’t synonymous. Both refer to a place where dead bodies are buried, but they differ in several ways, including size, location, religion, and headstone requirements.
For example, a graveyard that is part of a church will typically only allow members of that church to be buried there. A cemetery, on the other hand, is generally unaffiliated with a specific religion and allows anyone to be buried there.
While the difference between a churchyard and a cemetery might seem subtle, it can have real-world implications. For example, it can be challenging to locate living relatives who may be buried in a graveyard, making it difficult to contact them when an older relative’s death is imminent. It can also be complicated to coordinate re-use of a grave when family members cannot be located. This is a significant problem in many areas where graveyard space is limited.
History
A graveyard is a place where dead people are buried. It is a very sacred space for many people and the location of a loved one’s grave is a deeply personal choice.
In the past, people were often buried on their own property or in churchyards. If a wealthy family could afford it, they would hire stonemasons to carve elaborate headstones for their deceased relatives. The more intricate and imposing the headstone, the better it was considered.
The single word cemetery is the biggest clue that this isn’t just some open land next to a church. It is a designated burial ground and there are likely to be strict rules about what can and cannot be done in this special area. This is because there has been more planning involved in the layout of a cemetery than simply digging holes and burying people when they die. This is why a cemetery has a more official feel to it than a graveyard.
Location
As population growth accelerated during the early 19th century, church graveyards began to fill up and new spaces were needed. As a result, independent sites called “cemeteries” were created, and most are not affiliated with any church. They are also usually located far away from town centers to allow for more space.
Grave maps are a critical tool for cemetery visitors and help families find the location of their loved ones or ancestors. With the advancement of GPS and GPR technology, these mapping programs are making it easier than ever for families to locate their loved ones in graveyards nationwide.
A graveyard is a specific area around a church where members of that particular church can be buried. However, a cemetery is not the same thing as a churchyard and has many more distinctions. Cemeteries can be very large and a lot more modern, while churchyards are often smaller and older. In addition, churchyards typically only allow congregants of that particular religion to be buried in their grounds.
Etymology
A graveyard is a place where people are buried. It’s usually associated with a church. The word is derived from the Greek word koimeterion, which means sleeping place. During the Middle Ages, wealthy or important Christians were generally interred inside the church in a crypt, while less well-off congregants were buried outside in the graveyard. As populations increased and there wasn’t enough space in churchyards to bury everyone, new burial sites were created that weren’t connected to a specific church and are referred to as cemeteries.
The words graveyard and cemetery can seem interchangeable, but there are some subtle differences between the two. For example, a graveyard is typically much smaller than a cemetery. It also tends to have older tombstones that aren’t particularly well-maintained. A cemetery, on the other hand, is bigger and has newer, more modern family plots. It can also contain tombstones from different religions. This makes it a more diverse and inclusive burial site than a churchyard.